The Meaning Behind A Christmas Carol with Jerry Bowyer

Dec 25, 2024

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Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol is a timeless tale cherished for its powerful story of transformation. Yet beneath its heartwarming narrative lies a deeper commentary on economics, generosity, and faith—one that challenges the worldview of scarcity and embraces God’s abundance.

Today, Jerry Bowyer will dive into the philosophical and theological themes within the story and help us discover what we can learn from Ebenezer Scrooge’s journey.

Jerry Bowyer is the President of Bowyer Research and our Resident Economist here at Faith & Finance. He is the author of “The Maker Versus the Takers: What Jesus Really Said About Social Justice and Economics.”

The "Surplus Population" Mindset

One of the most striking moments in A Christmas Carol is Scrooge’s cold remark about the “surplus population.” This phrase reflects an ideology rooted in the teachings of Reverend Thomas Malthus, an 18th-century economist who believed that population growth would outpace resources, leading to widespread poverty. Malthus advocated for limiting population growth, particularly among the poor.

Scrooge’s initial worldview mirrors this philosophy: a belief that resources are scarce, people are a burden, and the poor are expendable. This mindset not only disregards the inherent dignity of every person but also misrepresents the nature of God as generous and abundant.

A Christmas Carol: A Response to Malthusianism

Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol as a critique of Malthusian ideas. Through Scrooge’s transformation, the story reveals the flaws in a worldview of scarcity. Scrooge begins the story isolated, stingy, and bitter—seeing others as competitors for limited resources. By the end, he embraces generosity, community, and joy, reflecting the biblical truth that humans are created in God’s image to love, create, and give.

The Ghost of Christmas Present drives this point home by challenging Scrooge’s cold logic. In one scene, he rebukes Scrooge, asking, “Are you the surplus population?” This moment underscores that no one is surplus in God’s economy. Every person is valuable, created for a purpose, and capable of contributing to human flourishing.

The transformation of Scrooge’s mindset from scarcity to abundance aligns with a biblical view of God’s provision. In Genesis 1:28, God commands humanity to “be fruitful and multiply” and to “fill the earth and subdue it.” Far from being burdens, people are creators and contributors, reflecting God’s creative nature.

History supports this biblical principle. During Dickens’ time, industrial and economic advancements were lifting many out of poverty. Contrary to Malthus’ predictions, human ingenuity and collaboration were unlocking unprecedented prosperity. Dickens weaves this reality into A Christmas Carol, showing how generosity and a thriving community lead to abundance.

Lessons from Scrooge’s Redemption

Scrooge’s transformation offers timeless lessons:

Embrace Generosity: The turning point in Scrooge’s story is his decision to give freely to others. Generosity reflects God’s character and opens the door to joy and community.
Value Every Life: Tiny Tim, a child who might be dismissed as “surplus” in Scrooge’s old mindset, symbolizes hope and purpose. Dickens reminds us that every life is precious in God’s eyes.
Challenge Scarcity Thinking: Scarcity thinking breeds fear, isolation, and selfishness. By contrast, faith in God’s abundance allows us to live with open hands and hearts.
Redeem the Past: Scrooge’s journey with the Ghost of Christmas Past shows how trauma and hardship can shape our worldview. Yet, we can move beyond our past to live in freedom and generosity through grace, healing, and community.

The themes of A Christmas Carol remain relevant in our world. Modern ideologies that devalue life, promote fear of overpopulation or prioritize self-interest mirror the Malthusian philosophy Dickens opposed. As believers, we are called to affirm every person's inherent worth and reflect God’s abundant generosity in how we live and give.

Just as Scrooge learns, we are not “bugs” competing for limited resources. We are image-bearers of a loving Creator who calls us to steward the earth, care for one another, and trust His provision.

As we watch A Christmas Carol or reflect on its message this Christmas season, let’s remember the gospel truth at its heart: God is generous, not stingy. He gave us His Son, Jesus, the ultimate gift of love and redemption.

In the words of Tiny Tim, “God bless us, everyone!” May we live out that blessing by embracing generosity, valuing life, and trusting in the abundance of God’s provision.

On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:

My 84-year-old mother wants to gift each of us four kids a $100,000 CD. What's the best way for her to do this without us paying a lot of taxes?
I want to use my retirement accounts to pay off my kids' college debt. Is there a way to do this without having to pay taxes on the withdrawals? Or can I get their debt reduced through government aid programs?

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